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The Millennium Edition of the Atlas of Saskatchewan, published in 2000, was the first major update to the material presented in the 1969 Edition. This important reference work was compiled and edited by Dr. K.I. Fung following the model he helped develop for the 1969 Edition. The Millennium Edition also introduced a significant extension to that model; namely, the adoption of digital mapping and graphics technology. This innovation meant that digital databases from many different sources could be used directly in the preparation of map and text material. It also allowed Atlas material to be generated in a form compatible with electronic publishing and Internet communication technologies. As a result, we were able to produce a CD-ROM Edition of the Atlas in only one year.
Production of the CD-ROM Edition demanded innovation to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities presented by working in a new and rapidly evolving, digital communications medium. The layout of every page had to be modified or completely redesigned to suit the height-to-width ratio of the computer screen, which is very different from that of a typical book page. In fact, the very concept of the page as an information and design unit changed significantly in the face of the interaction and navigation possibilities available with digital media. These possibilities are reflected in the innovative new layouts and designs. The CD-ROM Edition uses animation and sound to help communicate geographical information. It introduces the use of interactive panning to allow users to explore the richness and depth of the larger and more detailed maps. Dynamic links between graphical and textual material help the user navigate the tremendously complex body of information that was compiled for the Atlas.
This work is dedicated to the people of Saskatchewan in the hope that you enjoy it and that it enriches your understanding and appreciation of the world in which we live. |
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The
roots of this CD-ROM Edition of the Atlas of Saskatchewan
reach back to the 1960’s and the early days of the Department
of Geography at the University of Saskatchewan. The first edition
of the Atlas was published in 1969 and was produced as a Canadian
Centennial project. The editor of that first edition of the Atlas
was Dr. J.H. Richards (first Head of the Department of Geography)
and the cartographer was Dr. K.I. Fung. The 1969 Edition established
an innovative format for the Atlas in which a well-balanced mix
of maps and text was used to explore the physical and cultural
landscapes of our province. The first edition also followed the
cooperative model that we so often associate with our province,
drawing on the expertise of many different scholars and specialists
in government, university and private industry.
The
CD-ROM Edition of the Atlas of Saskatchewan blends the innovations
of its predecessors with new technology and creative vision to
move the geographical heritage of our province another step forward.
This advance is represented, in part, by the many new contributions
to the CD-ROM Edition. These include material on the post-glacial
evolution of our river systems, the aboriginal languages of Saskatchewan,
and a very colorful presentation on our provincial flower.
Another very exciting aspect
of the CD-ROM Edition is its potential for greater accessibility.
The lower cost and smaller size of the CD-ROM Edition will make
it easier for the people of Saskatchewan to access the information
contained in their Atlas and to distribute their Atlas to users
around the world. The production of the CD-ROM Edition represents
a significant break-through into the world of digital communication
that we hope will set the stage for future innovation. The use
of digital publishing technologies will make it much easier to
update and expand the Atlas as new data and new ways of looking
at our world emerge. In much the same way as the Millennium Edition
created the potential for a CD-ROM Edition, we hope that the
CD-ROM Edition will, in turn, lay the foundation for a globally
accessible Internet Edition of the Atlas of Saskatchewan in the
not too distant future.